Improvement in fillings for beds, mattresses



UNITED STATES PATENT Orrron JOSEPH o. WIGHT-MAN, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN FILLINGS FOR BED-S,MATTRESSES,&0.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,140, dated December 2, 1873; application filed September 30, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrn O. WIGHTMAN, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Beds and Bedding Material and Filling for Mattresses, of which the following is a description:

The nature of my invention is to accomplish a twofold purpose in the preparation ofi the materials now used for beds and the filling of matresses, such as excelsior. I The primary step in my invention consists in rendering the above-named material uninflammable, so that, either in large quantities in the process of manufacture, or in the manufactured bed itself, the ordinary danger from fire, by reason of the inflammability of the finely-divided material, may be entirely obviated. To accomplish this purpose I impregnate the material with a suitable substance to prevent or retain combustion, such as salt, or, preferably, chloride of zinc, as this combines not only the qualities desirable for prevention from fire, but powerful antiseptic qualities also. 7

To impregnate any of the materials employed in bedding with any of the desirable substances, I simply soak the material in a solution of the salt or chloride of zinc, and allow it to dry, when it is fit for the purpose.

The secondary step in my invention consists in impregnating the material used in the construction of beds and mattresses with a powerful disinfectant, like carbolic acid. This may be done by soaking the material in a solution of the disinfecting substance, and afterward drying, as in the first-described process; but i carried on Without risk from fire, which is now very great, owing to the inflammable nature of the material employed, and by the second process the bed or mattress becomes of sanitary value. By using the solution of chloride ofzinc, both purposes are accomplished, as substances impregnated With it are rendered uninflammable, and its qualities as an antiseptic and disinfectant are Well known.

I claim 1. As a new article of manufacture for filling beds, mattresses, &c.,- excelsior rendered uninflammableby impregnating it with substances to prevent its infiammability, substantially as set forth.

. '2. In bed-filling of uninflammable excelsior, the treatment by disinfectant or antiseptic substances, substantially as specified.

JOSEPH G. VVIGHTMAN. 

